Method and apparatus for telematics-based vehicle no-start prognosis

Abstract

A system and method for determining the status of a vehicle battery to determine whether the battery may not have enough charge to start the vehicle. The method includes collecting data relating to the battery on the vehicle and collecting data relating to the battery at a remote back-office. Both the vehicle and the remote data center determine battery characteristics based on the collected data and the likelihood of a vehicle no-start condition, where the algorithm used at the remote back-office may be more sophisticated. The data collected at the remote back-office may include vehicle battery information transmitted wirelessly from the vehicle, and other information, such as temperature, battery reliability, miles that the vehicle has driven per day, ambient temperature, high content vehicle, etc. Both the vehicle and the remote back-office may determine the battery open circuit voltage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates generally to a system and method for determining that the state of charge (SOC) of a vehicle battery may be too low to start the vehicle at the next vehicle start-up and, more particularly, to a system and method for determining that the state of charge of a vehicle battery may be too low to start the vehicle at the next start-up, where information concerning the vehicle battery is stored and processed at a remote back-office and transmitted to the vehicle telematically.[0003]2. Discussion of the Related Art[0004]Vehicles typically employ a battery that provides power to various vehicle systems generally when the vehicle engine is not running. The vehicle battery also provides the power necessary to start the vehicle in response to a start command from a vehicle driver, such as turning the ignition key. When the vehicle engine is running, a vehicle generator recharges the vehicle battery. If the b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a system and method for determining if a vehicle's battery has enough charge to start it. The method involves collecting data about the battery on the vehicle and at a remote back-office, where the algorithm used to determine the battery's status is more sophisticated. The data collected may include battery information transmitted wirelessly from the vehicle, as well as other information such as temperature, battery reliability, and other factors that affect the battery's performance. Both the vehicle and the back-office may determine the battery's open circuit voltage. This invention helps ensure that drivers are aware of the status of their battery, so they can avoid situations where they may not be able to start their vehicle.

Problems solved by technology

If the battery state of charge (SOC) is too low, the battery may not be able to supply the necessary power to start the vehicle.

Further, a low battery SOC impacts the battery state of health (SOH) in the long term, typically resulting in prematurely defective batteries.

Further, vehicle parasitic loads as a result of the operation of electrical devices when the vehicle is off, such as the periodic wake-up of remote keyless entry systems and security system modules, draws power from the battery and reduces its SOC.

Also, vehicle system faults, such as stuck-closed relays, may create inadvertent loads that drain the battery.

After market consumer electronic devices, such as CD players, computers and cell phone chargers, plugged in when the vehicle is off will further drain the vehicle battery.

Moreover, depending on driving profile, such as driving frequency, duration and average speed of trips, the battery may not be charged enough by the vehicle generator.

Local trips at low vehicle speed may not allow the generator to charge the battery after supplying power to all of the on-board electrical loads.

Infrequent short trips may not charge the battery long enough to recover the charge lost due to the reasons discussed above.

In addition, a battery defect may prevent the battery from suitably accepting or holding charge.

Further, the battery's ability to provide a sufficient vehicle start is reduced when its temperature is low, such as below zero Celsius.

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